Teagasc

Average farm incomes rose to over 31,300 euro last year, according to the preliminary results of the 2017 Teagasc National Farm Survey.

The survey shows a 65% increase in average income for dairy farmers, a 20% increase for tillage, 8% increase for sheep farmers, while incomes are unchanged for cattle farmers.

Teagasc says the rise in average farm income is almost completely driven by the very large increase in income observed on dairy farms, however, the results also show that 35% of farms earned less than 10,000 euro in 2017.

More than two-thirds of the farms represented by the survey saw little change in their income last year, compared to 2016.

Average family farm incomes in Ireland rose by about 7% last year, according to a new Teagasc survey.

Economists say a key driver of the increase has been a reduction in animal feed use on dairy, beef and sheep farms, as well as additional subsidy supports for cattle producers, to alleviate the effects of falling beef prices.

The Teagasc study shows the volume of milk and cereals produced in Ireland increased in 2019, while the production of beef and sheep was disrupted by the recent blockades of meat factories.

Prices for milk, beef and sheep were all lower this year compared to 2018, while the ASF outbreak in China resulted in a sharp increase in international pig prices, returning the Irish pig industry to profitability this year.

Teagasc is predicting a further improvement in average farm family incomes in 2020 on dairy, tillage and sheep farms, with minor changes in income forecast for cattle farms.

The Irish Natura and Hill Farmers Association (INHFA) is calling for an extra 10 euros per ewe for hill flocks ahead of the Teagasc National Hill Sheep conference due to take place in Westport on Wednesday.

Speaking in advance of the conference, INHFA Vice President Brendan Joyce said that "with savings of €5 million of the €25 million welfare package in year one of the scheme and a similar level of saving likely in year two, the Government must now increase the available budget and target it towards the hill sheep sector.

He claims hill flock owners need as much support as possible to sustain hill farming in the absence of a market for light hill lamb.

Any environmental changes which will be required in the agricultural sector will cost money – and the bulk of the adjustments will have to be made by the dairy sector, according to director of Teagasc Professor Gerry Boyle.

The Irish Natura and Hill Farmers Association has been reacting to the report and Professor Boyle’s comments.

Gerry Loftus, who is also a member of the association’s committee on forestry and climate change, says that not all farmers are equal and it would not fair to penalise all farmers in the same manner when it comes to combating climate change.

He said they are happy to see that Teagasc has recognised this in this report and that rural Ireland is at a disadvantage when it comes to agriculture and profit margins in farming.

It is believed the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Climate Change’s report of recommendations, due to be published tomorrow will recommend a “fundamental redirection of Irish agriculture” away from a reliance on dairy and beef and move towards horticulture.